PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Bathory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bathory is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 'Victory' by Gramatik. Mirko Emelianenko could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eli Bathory's chin.

Emelianenko
vs
Bathory

179 cm
28
185 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

190 cm
29
192 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

O'Brannigan's Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mirko Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eli Bathory!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Emelianenko instigates a clinch.

Bathory has Emelianenko pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bathory pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Emelianenko tumbling to the mat - Bathory dives into Emelianenko's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bathory looking to sit in guard and control but Emelianenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Bathory is retaining full guard.
Bathory trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bathory keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Emelianenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bathory manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Emelianenko manages to get himself to full guard.
Bathory is pushing down on Emelianenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Emelianenko is fighting to maintain full guard but Bathory has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bathory thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Emelianenko's head.
Bathory has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bathory winds up and cracks Emelianenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Emelianenko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bathory.
Bathory content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

It looks like Mirko Emelianenko has been cut.
Bathory trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Emelianenko, not yet.
Emelianenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bathory with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bathory with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bathory throws a strike but Emelianenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bathory is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Emelianenko preventing the sweep.
Bathory working a defensive guard here.
Bathory looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bathory, up you get!

Bathory gets a takedown into half guard.
Bathory thows a huge punch but Emelianenko dodges it nicely.
Bathory content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bathory slips a nice elbow through Emelianenko's hands, connecting with Emelianenko's forehead.
Bathory looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bathory scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bathory missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bathory looks to land a strike but Emelianenko avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bathory wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
Bathory missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bathory missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Emelianenko keeping full guard, as Bathory tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bathory throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emelianenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bathory makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Bathory dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mirko Emelianenko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Emelianenko stuffs the takedown.
Bathory shoots for a takedown but Emelianenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Emelianenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Bathory. Bathory gets slowly back to his feet.
Mirko Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Bathory.
Bathory changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Emelianenko tries to avoid it but Bathory manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Emelianenko to the ground. Emelianenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Emelianenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko throws a nice looking combination but Bathory bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bathory fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.
Eli Bathory seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bathory shoots in for a double leg but Emelianenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bathory fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Bathory is having none of it.
Bathory circles away from the clinch attempt.

Emelianenko gets a clinch.
Bathory wants a takedown but no success here.
Bathory is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bathory backwards.
Emelianenko prevents a takedown attempt there.
Emelianenko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Emelianenko landing knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Emelianenko is leaning against Bathory and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Emelianenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Emelianenko stops a takedown attempt from Bathory.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bathory takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Eli Bathory has been cut.

Emelianenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bathory takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bathory swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Good leg kick by Emelianenko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mirko Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Emelianenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bathory steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Emelianenko. That one must have hurt.
Bathory circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mirko Emelianenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko gets a clinch.
Emelianenko pushes Bathory back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Emelianenko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Emelianenko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bathory lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bathory takes a knee to the side of the body.
A short body shot lands from Emelianenko as the two fighters clinch.
Emelianenko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Emelianenko crunches a lovely knee into Bathory's ribcage.
Emelianenko lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Emelianenko - that landed with a thud.
Emelianenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees in the clinch landing for Emelianenko.
Knees to the body from Emelianenko.
A short left from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko presses Bathory against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Emelianenko gets through Bathory's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mirko Emelianenko has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Emelianenko gets through Bathory's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Emelianenko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Emelianenko landing knees to the head.
Emelianenko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bathory in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Emelianenko scores with a nice hook to the head.
Emelianenko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Emelianenko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Emelianenko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Emelianenko holding his opponent close, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Emelianenko.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emelianenko tries a knee to the head but Bathory blocks it.
Emelianenko crunches a lovely knee into Bathory's ribcage.
Bathory takes a knee to the side of the body.
Emelianenko struggles to land a body shot inside as Bathory controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bathory's face.
Emelianenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bathory has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Emelianenko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bathory blocks it with crossed arms.
Emelianenko looking to slow down the pace here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Emelianenko.
Bathory can't get the takedown.
Emelianenko working Bathory over with knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko crunches a lovely knee into Bathory's ribcage.
Emelianenko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Emelianenko obliges.
Bathory tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A knee to the head by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko scores a nice knee to the body.
Emelianenko lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bathory.

Emelianenko manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Emelianenko dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Emelianenko lands a leg kick that knocks Bathory off balance momentarily.
Bathory will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Bathory circles away.
Emelianenko scores with a head kick. Bathory tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Emelianenko landing knees to the head.
Bathory has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Emelianenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Emelianenko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short body shot lands from Emelianenko as the two fighters clinch.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch.
Bathory fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.
Mirko Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Bathory.
Emelianenko uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bathory takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Emelianenko plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Bathory is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko moves in looking to clinch but Bathory pushes him off.
Emelianenko tries to clinch there but Bathory circles away.
Emelianenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Emelianenko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mirko Emelianenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Bathory takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Bathory is having none of it.
Bathory shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Emelianenko as he jumps to the side.
Emelianenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bathory keeps the fight on the outside.

Bathory feints and as Emelianenko raises his hands in defense, Bathory changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bathory throws a strike but Emelianenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bathory has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Emelianenko has passed into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bathory throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Bathory tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Emelianenko presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko content just to control the position here.
Bathory tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bathory swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Emelianenko prevents Bathory from getting the reversal.
Emelianenko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bathory is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Emelianenko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Emelianenko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Emelianenko!